Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Hon. Dr. Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, has finally broken his silence following a wave of criticism from TikTok sensation Pretty Nicole, who accused him of failing to deliver on a promise to sponsor her education and facilitate an international study trip.
In a recent interview, Pretty Nicole didn’t mince her words. She claimed that Hon. Balaam had pledged to support her academic journey and help her travel to Canada for further studies a move that, according to her would have not only benefitted her career but also contributed positively to the Youth Ministry.
However, she says those promises never came to life. Nicole accused the minister of using her name for publicity, alleging that once the cameras were off, so was his support.
The accusations quickly gained traction online, prompting a swift response from Hon. Balaam.
In a detailed statement, he addressed the matter head-on, starting with the Canada trip.
“The denial of the Canadian visa was beyond my control, I do not hold any authority over visa approvals.”,he explained.
He further noted that Nicole had received the required bank statements for her application, which were provided by events promoter Andrew Mukasa Bajjo.
On the issue of school fees, the minister said he had asked Mr. Onyango Robert to provide a bank slip from Kyambogo University to confirm the payment process. To date, he claims, the slip has not been shared with him.
Balaam urged Pretty Nicole to steer clear of spreading what he described as “unsubstantiated claims,” and encouraged her to focus on resolving her personal matters instead of fueling public controversy.
We will keep you posted as story unfolds.
